After getting a good impression during a two-season loan at Sheffield United’s opponents on Thursday, the 23-year-old has yet to win a starting run at Old Trafford
When it comes to squad rotation, the goal-keeping situation of one manager rarely feels the need to change in an effort to ensure high gear, and the demands are small. body.
And yet, with Manchester United starting a series of six games within 15 days with a trip to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United, there has been a suggestion from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he may be willing to take matters into his own hands. change between the sticks.
“Do you know how many games we have?” was Solskjaer ‘s response when asked whether the second meeting in November with Istanbul Basaksehir was likely to be Dean Henderson’ s last in 2020.
“I do not completely agree if tomorrow is (you suggest) an opportunity-or-break (minute) for Dean. ”
As it turned out, David de Gea secured a place for the Turkish champions’ goal, and although Henderson has made his first league debut for the Red Devils, he is still waiting for the first round of matches. for his youth club outside the competition cup.
The 23-year-old will return to South Yorkshire on Thursday in the hope of going against the side with which he enjoyed two stellar seasons on loan, and that Solskjaer will finally give him a chance to show what he can do at an important stage in the the season.
If he stays on the bench in the future, however, Solskjaer has a problem with unwanted hands, and one that club fans could share.
Henderson decided to stay at United this season and sign a new five-year contract with the understanding that he would get a fair chance to challenge De Gea – who had made his way through the past campaigns – for a starting site. .
And despite enjoying them in the Carabao Cup against Luton Town and Brighton before he acted as voice and present when he put De Gea against Southampton in November, there is still a series of starts to come.
“The shows will always be the most important thing whether you play or not,” Solskjaer said last month, and if it weren’t for De Gea’s knee injury, it seems that Henderson wouldn’t even has made a league appearance for United.
As a player who is still harboring hopes of becoming Gareth Southgate’s No. 1 with England at this summer’s European Championships, Henderson must question whether he made the right call to stay at Old Trafford this term. seo.
If he had known how few opportunities would have been available, would he have stayed? If things stay the way they are, will he want to stay beyond the end of this season? The answer for both is probably ‘no’.
To his credit, De Gea has found some consistency, and even when he was called out by Paul Scholes for being “bottled” for the goal Justin Kluivert scored for RB Leipzig when United fell out of the Champions League to be a little higher.
Little has been said that the former Real Madrid target could leave the club anytime soon, even if his sale would help boost the finances. is available with Solskjaer in the mobile market.
Norway has continued to support De Gea even when he felt like he was making costly mistakes almost every week, and if that belief remains, it is very likely that Henderson will get the same run. of games that allowed him to succeed under Chris Wilder across the Pennines.
“It just shows how profitable some loan deals are,” Solskjaer said ahead of the class Thursday. Dean has made his way through the ranks and Sheffield United’s two years have really made him return as a mature quality keeper.
“He has had inspiring experiences and his year in the Premier League last season was invaluable to us and him.
“He’s learning more and more in the style of Man United. Our play is a little different and we have a couple of different requests from him, but we’re really grateful to Sheffield United and Chris for giving them a chance. to improve as they did. ”
Wilder would like Henderson to be back this season, and with the Blades gathered at the bottom of the table with just a lone point from 12 games, it is very likely that he does not regret that the youngster is not call this time.
What hurts more, however, is to see Henderson among the substitutes again. This feeling of slowly becoming the waste season for the bullet stopper grows before the week.
It remains to be seen whether he will be patient to wait out.